A letter to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham  

Lynn Green has joined leaders from the Methodist and United Reformed Churches in writing a letter to Andy Burnham as he becomes Prime Minister. 

The letter is co-ordinated by the Joint Public Issues Team, and a prayer follows the letter 

Dear Prime Minister

Congratulations on your appointment. As the leaders of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches in Britain, we write to assure you of our prayers and those of our congregations as you take up your new role.

We also write to encourage you to lead a government of integrity that pursues justice and peace and seeks to serve the common good, and to offer you the partnership and support of our churches in that task.

You take up office at a time when there are many challenges facing government and many strains evident in local communities, from the cost of living to the impacts of global conflict. There is also an urgent need to restore faith in the ability of politics to meet these challenges. You know from your time as Mayor of Greater Manchester that churches – and other faith and civic groups – are willing and capable partners in much of this work. 

As Church denominations, we share a vision of a society where the poorest and most marginalised are at the centre, where refugees are welcomed, where the environment is renewed, where a just economy enables the flourishing of all life, and where politics is characterised by listening, kindness and truthfulness, and of a world that actively works for peace. Where there is common ground around this agenda, we are committed to seeking a constructive relationship with your government which will help to enable those hopes to be fulfilled. To that end, we look forward to opportunities to meet with you and your team.

As we and our predecessors said when this government was first elected two years ago, we will pray for God’s blessing to be on all endeavours to seek peace, justice and the wellbeing of this nation – and where we can embody that blessing, we will.

Yours sincerely

The Revd Mark Slaney, President of the Methodist Conference                                                                                        

Caroline Stead, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference

The Revd Neil Thorogood, Moderator of the United Reformed Church General Assembly                              

The Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain


A prayer

God of wisdom and peace,

Today we pray for Andy Burnham as he begins his service as Prime Minister. Grant him wisdom to make good decisions, courage to do what is right, humility to listen well, and strength for the responsibilities he now carries.

We pray for all who serve in public life: ministers, MPs, civil servants and local leaders. Give them integrity, compassion and a genuine desire to seek the good of all. May they be especially attentive to those who are poor, vulnerable or overlooked, both in our own communities and across the world.

We also pray for ourselves as citizens. In a time when public debate can so easily become angry and divided, help us to be people of grace and truth. Teach us to disagree with respect, to seek understanding before judgement, and to play our part in building a healthier public life.

May your peace, justice and wisdom shape our nation, and may all those entrusted with authority govern in ways that enable people and communities to flourish.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Amen.


Image | Official portrait, UK Parliament